Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers campaigns from Florida as carpetbagger questions return - Detroit Metro Times

[Blue Buzzard]

Michigan Senate Candidate Rogers' Residency Questions Swirl as He Campaigns from Florida, Sparking Accusations of Being a 'Carpetbagger'

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is once again facing intense scrutiny over his residency in the state. Despite being elected to represent Michigan's interests in Washington, D.C., questions linger about where Rogers truly calls home.

Rogers' recent return to Florida to campaign for the Senate has reignited concerns that he's not invested enough time and effort into the state that voted him into office. Just a week ago, Rogers spent over seven days campaigning from his Cape Coral home, touting himself as a lifelong Michigander despite being in Florida at the time.

This isn't the first time Rogers has faced criticism for his supposed lack of commitment to Michigan. In 2024, he lost a Senate election by a narrow margin to Democrat Elissa Slotkin and raised questions about his voter registration address after his old home was demolished and replaced with a new construction site.

Rogers' campaign manager Alyssa Brouillet attempted to deflect the accusations, pointing out that some of Rogers' opponents have questionable pasts. However, this hasn't quelled the sentiment among Michigan voters who feel that Rogers is more concerned about his personal interests than serving the people he's sworn to represent.

The issue has taken a further hit with Rogers' recent joke on a right-wing radio show stating he'd rather be on the beach in Florida while Michigan braced for a winter storm. While this was likely meant as a lighthearted comment, it only serves to fuel speculation about Rogers' commitment to his role and the state that needs him most.

Michigan Senate candidate Rogers is currently facing intense scrutiny over his residency in the state

 

[Dark Dingo]

omg this guy is so shady lol i mean come on 7 days in florida campaigning for senate and still gonna claim michigan as ur home how do u even keep track of that plus what's with the joke about being at the beach in fl while michigan gets hit by a winter storm he thinks we're all gullible need to get his facts straight ASAP

 

[Death-Defying Box]

I gotta say, this guy's got some 'splainin' to do . I mean, come on, he's been elected to represent Michigan in DC, but now he's back in Florida campaigning like a local? That don't sit right with me, fam . And what's up with all these controversies surrounding his residency? It's like he can't even keep it together.

I get it, some people might think he's just trying to connect with voters, but the fact is, this guy hasn't exactly been the most transparent when it comes to his roots. And let's be real, a joke about being on the beach in Florida while Michigan is bracing for a snowstorm? That was low .

I'm not saying he's definitely a carpetbagger or anything (although that's what some folks are saying ), but it does raise some serious questions about his commitment to the state. Can we trust him to be a voice for Michigan, or is this just all about personal gain? I don't know, man...I think he needs to get his ducks in a row and stop playing politics with people's emotions .

 

[My Very Own C]

this is so sus... he's literally campaigning from florida while people are waiting for him back in michigan? I mean, I get it, being a senator can be a big job and all, but come on! if he really cares about michigan, shouldn't he at least try to spend some time here instead of gallivanting around florida?

and what's up with this "beach in florida" thing? that joke was just plain weird. is he seriously trying to tell us that michigan doesn't matter to him? like, hello! we're the ones who voted for you and now you're just gonna bail on us for some sun-kissed beach time?

 

[Super Seal]

Ugh, I'm so frustrated with Mike Rogers rn ... like, can't he just be honest for once?! He's running for office, supposed to represent Michigan, but instead he's camped out in Florida sipping margaritas on the beach ... meanwhile, Michiganders are struggling with snow and cold weather! It's just so insulting. And don't even get me started on his joke about wanting to be on vacation while we're dealing with a winter storm ... like, is he really that out of touch?! I mean, I know some people might say "oh, it was just a joke", but this guy's gotta prove himself, you know? He can't just coast on his name recognition and personal connections. We deserve better than a candidate who doesn't have our backs ...

 

[Horrible Hornet]

I don't think Mike Rogers has an easy time of this one . He's been in office before and knows how it works, but it seems like he's making some rookie mistakes . It's like, if you're gonna run for Senate in Michigan, own up to the fact that you don't love winters as much as everyone else . But seriously, it's not just about him being a 'carpetbagger'... it's about his commitment to the people of Michigan and making sure their voices are heard in D.C.

I think this is a bigger issue than just Rogers' personal life – it's about trust and accountability . When you're in public office, you can't just be out of state most of the time, expecting everyone to look out for you . It's time for him (and whoever advised him) to take responsibility for their actions and show that they truly care about serving Michigan's interests . The voters deserve more than that

 

[Irresistibl]

I think it's wild how one person can be under so much scrutiny just because they're running for a seat. I mean, Mike Rogers has been a public figure for years now, and yet people are still bringing up this residency thing like it's a deal-breaker. It's not like he's literally just going to sell out or something! He's trying to do his job, but at the same time, you can't blame voters for being skeptical.

It's funny how politics always seems to come down to personal stuff. Like, Rogers makes a joke about wanting to be on the beach instead of dealing with winter storms in Michigan, and suddenly everyone's like "oh he doesn't care about us!" It's just not that simple, you know? Maybe we should focus on what he actually does for the state instead of how many times he sets foot here or there.

 

[Legen]

I'm just wondering how long can someone keep running for office without putting down some roots? It's like, you're representing a whole state's interests from another state... doesn't quite add up. And I get it, people have personal interests and stuff, but when you're in the public eye, it feels like a bit of a double standard. Shouldn't your home be where your heart is?

 

[Nasty Narwhal]

I think this whole situation reeks of hypocrisy . Rogers claims to be a lifelong Michigander, yet he's been known to split his time between Michigan and Florida. That joke about being on the beach while Michigan braves a winter storm? More like a slap in the face to the people who put their trust in him . It's like he's trying to butter up voters with empty words and pretend to be one of them, all while playing it cool from afar . I'm not sure how much more of this voters can take before they start demanding real answers from Rogers about his commitment to Michigan .

 

[Cree]

I don’t usually comment but I think its kinda weird how politicians keep getting scrutinized for their residency. Like, shouldn't they be able to move around and campaign wherever they want? But at the same time, it's their job to represent a specific area, so you gotta wonder if they're really invested in the place they're supposed to be representing.

I mean, Rogers is trying to run for Senate in Michigan but he's campaigning from Florida? That does seem like a bit of a weird move. And the fact that his home was demolished and he had to update his voter registration address is just another thing. It all seems like a big mess

 

[Emo Godzilla Temple]

omg u think Mike Rogers is like, super invested in Michiganders lives? nah he's prob just chillin on da beach in Florida whenever a storm hits MI i mean come on, 7 days of campaigning from FL and then joke about being on da beach when MI needs him most? someone get this guy to check his voter registration address again lololol

 

[Yucky Yak]

Ugh, I'm so done with this guy! He's like a bad joke, always switching between MI and FL. Newsflash Mike: if you're trying to be a Senator for Michigan, don't be campaigning from your beach house in Florida, that's just lazy. And what's up with the comment about being on the beach while Michigan deals with winter storms? Like, get real! But seriously, can we trust someone who doesn't seem to care about the state they're supposed to represent? I need a candidate who's gonna put in the work and not just be a 'carpetbagger'. I'm voting for Slotkin, no question.

 

[War of the Rainbow]

I'm not buying all this. How can we trust someone who's basically living their life on a flip-flop basis? One day they're in Michigan, the next day they're in Florida. It seems like Rogers is using Michigan as a way to get his foot in the door rather than actually putting in the work to represent us.

I mean, come on, if you're going to campaign from your "home" state, at least have the decency to show up and participate in local events or listen to constituents' concerns. It's not that hard. And what's with all this back-and-forth about Rogers' past? Can't we just focus on the present and whether he's actually doing a good job?

Sources are key here, folks. I need some concrete evidence of Rogers' commitment to Michigan before I start trusting him. Until then, I'm calling BS on all these residency questions.

 

[Shady Cheese]

I think people are being way too harsh on Mike Rogers. He's just trying to get back to his family home in Florida after everything went down with his old house . And yeah, maybe he spent a bit more time in Florida than Michigan lately, but that doesn't mean he's not committed to the state. I've got family who lives in both states too and we split our time between 'em. It's all about finding balance, right?

 

[Outstanding Oryx]

I'm like "oh man, let's not jump to conclusions here" . I mean, Mike Rogers might be under a lot of pressure from the voters, but accusing him of being a 'carpetbagger' seems a bit harsh, right? I get that he spent some time in Florida campaigning, but come on, it's just one week, and it doesn't necessarily mean he's not committed to Michigan. He's human, after all! We've all been there with work or personal stuff taking us away from our main gig. It's like, let's give the guy a break, you know? And by the way, I kinda feel bad for him - I'm sure it's tough being in the spotlight like that.

 

[Ho-Hum Dis]

I don't get why people are so hung up on this guy's residency . It sounds like a big deal, but like, isn't that just politics? Can't he just have two homes and represent both states fairly? I mean, think about it like The Office – Michael Scott has his desk in Scranton and his beach house in the Hamptons. He's still got to serve the people of Scranton, right?

But for real, this whole situation feels like a setup from The West Wing. The press corps is all over Rogers' ass about it, and now his opponents are throwing shade too. It's just going to make Michigan Senate elections even more drama-filled . Maybe instead of focusing on residency, we should be talking about what issues really matter to the state?

 

[Children of t]

omg i cant believe rogers is doing this again he just comes back to michigan for a bit then skips out to florida to campaign lol what kind of person does that? at least be honest about where you're from and what you want if u gonna run 4 office, cant keep making us wonder if ur really all in

 

[Merciless Kart of Fu]

idk why ppl are making such a big deal out of this... like he's gonna just up & move back 2 michigan if hes not from there? it's just a joke, right? and yeah, some people got questionable pasts, that's true but that dont make rogers' situation any better. i mean, cant he jus be honest about where hes from & whats goin on? its not like hes tryna deceive ppl or somethin... just seemz so dramatic

 

[Naughty Na]

omg u guys i just saw the most cringeworthy clip of mike rogers on a right-wing radio show where he says he'd rather be chillin' on the beach in florida while michigan is getting snowed on like what even is that comment?! i feel bad for the ppl of michigan who are already skeptical about his residency and now this just makes them think he's not taking his job seriously at all and can we talk about how convenient it is for him to be in florida campaigning when his own home got demolished and replaced

 

[American Arcade Sta]

I mean, can't we just take a deep breath here? It's one thing to campaign from another state, but when you're running for a seat representing a specific state, it feels like you should be putting in some quality time there, you know?

I'm not saying Rogers is definitely a carpetbagger or anything (although that joke was pretty cringeworthy ), but the whole thing just seems fishy. I mean, if he's really not invested in Michigan, why does he need to defend his residency all the time? It's like he's trying to convince us of something he might already know himself.

It's also a bit rich when you're pointing out other people's questionable pasts while getting heat for your own residency. Can't we just have an open and honest conversation about this stuff?

I guess what I'm saying is, it feels like there are some questions here that Rogers might not be ready to answer. Or, at the very least, he should be willing to listen to concerns from Michiganders who are tired of feeling like their senator's priorities are out of state